Liga Sagres: Sport Lisboa e Benfica 1-0 Futebol Clube Porto

The eagles dominated the Portuguese Champion FC Porto and demontrated they want the 1st place.

SL Benfica received last Sunday the team of Porto, the night was cold and with lots of rain. The Stadium was full, almost 64 000 spectators did not fear the bad weather, but who suffered the most with those conditions was the pitch and the artists of both teams. SL Benfica had to enter the game with different players, if we consider the usual team. Urreta, Carlos Martins and C. Peixoto demonstrated they are in the first eleven but have the qualities needed to also belong there.

The game was very tactical, maybe because both coaches, Jorge Jesus and Jesualdo Ferreira, knew that a defeat could make some damage on the team prestige and probably be an psichological unadvantage. After the result of FC Porto obtained in Madrid with unexpected numbers, few believed that the reds were going to control the game so well.

Saviola cannot be many games away from the goals, and when Cardozo doesn’t score, there he cames, to show he also makes the difference. El Conejo, or the rabbit, as he his known, made an important goal that consolidates the position of the team in the top of the Portuguese League Sagres near SC Braga. Carlos Martins also made a fantastic 1st half and it was noticed he gave all he could, by his exhaustion on the second part of the game. Porto played a bit better on the second part Another important factor was the lesion of Ramires. Fortunately Luisão and once again David Luiz showed their qualities. Quim responded very well when needed and also the players who entered, Luis Filipe, F. Menezes and Weldon demonstrated that they want other chances. A final word to the habitual good perfomances of Maxi Pereira and Javi Garcia.

A Victory finishing the Europa League Group I

Benfica finishes the Europa League group phase with a victory. The greeks of AEK Athens come to Lisbon wanting to repeat the result obtained in Athens but faced a solid team that did not give them that chance. Angel Di Maria wanted to recover his image and he did it. The argentine football player made an amazing exhibition and obtaining also the two goals of the reds. The Greeks reduced but their lack of motivation was evident, so the game ended with a 2-1 victory for our team.

Uefa Europa League Draw

The draw made today in Nyon, Switzerland, decided that the European SL Benfica, will play, once more, against Hertha BSC Berlin in the next knockout round.

The next obstacle of the reds, the German team of Hertha BSC Berlin, has played earlier in the group phase against another Portuguese team Sporting CP,at the end, the results between them were, one game lost away and other won at home, both with the same final result 1-0.

To be present on the next draw, the Eagles will need to eliminate the German team, knowing that they will want to be present, on a final, that takes place on their own country. In fact, the Final will be on Wednesday 12 May in Hamburg. But the reds want to have the privilege, to be one of the finalists. Let's try to win and thing on the next rounds, step by step, The quarter-finals are played on 1 and 8 April, the semi-finals on 22 and 29 April.

Great victories before Xmas makes the fans dream with Titles. Let’s show our true value in the new and happy year of 2o1o.

Europa League: Sport Lisboa e Benfica vs AEK Athens FC

Now it is time to receive AEK Athens FC. The Greek team has been the only team, until now, who had won us, for the Europa League group phase. By that time and after a defeat in Greece, on the second group game, few could have expect that by this time Benfica would be the first of the group and AEK, was fighting for avoid the last place of the group. This game, may allow some less used players to show their value and also to let them demonstrate that they deserve more opportunities. Let's hope that, if tonight any other earthquake occurs in Portugal, it will not be 6.0 Richter scale, but on a scale of goals scored: 6 goals for Benfica of course.

Jorge Jesus to the Press:
"Roderick Miranda will play for sure, we can't say yet where he will play but he will be in the eleven for sure. " About the next two games: "I want to win both games, nevertheless if I had to choose one I had to win, I would for sure prefer to win the one counting for the Portuguese League, next Sunday."

Dušan Bajević the Press
Also the coach of Geraldo and Manduka, who dressed before the red colours, rather prefers to win the league match. "It is natural that both teams are now more concentrated on the national Leagues. The group is decided, but of course I think both teams will try to win the game tomorrow (today) and give their best in the Europa League."

Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Goalkeepers: Moreira and Júlio César;
Defenders: Luís Filipe, Maxi Pereira, Roderick Miranda, Luisão, Miguel Vítor, Sidnei, Shaffer and Peixoto;
Midfielders: Javi Garcia, Carlos Martins, Felipe Menezes and Di María;
Forwards: Óscar Cardozo, Nuno Gomes, Weldon and Keirrison;
Coach: Jorge Jesus.

Referee Gianluca Rocchi (ITA) Assistant referee Luca Maggiani (ITA) Nicola Nicoletti (ITA) Additional assistant referee Luca Banti (ITA) Emidio Morganti (ITA) Fourth official Christian Brighi (ITA)

Liga Sagres: Sporting Clube Olhanense 2-2 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

A terrible nightmare emerged, last weekend, from the adorable nights of Algarve.

SL Benfica went to visit the historic team of Olhanense, but almost everything went wrong. Although the nights of "Allgarve" may be extremely animated and enthusiastic, specially in the summer, this was not one of those. There were no tourists and no hot weather, probably that was the main reason why the red players forgot to play football.

The team of Olhão, SC Olhanense, has been away of the first Portuguese League since 1975, and we gladly appreciate a presence of a team of the South of Portugal among the best teams of our country. The presence of Algarve teams, in the 1st League, is something important and we hope that the presence of this team or of other clubs from the same region becomes more often.

The reds coach Jorge Jesus, who had played, on those remote times, for the Olhanense team knew perfectly well that this would be an important game for the Algarvian team. Knowing this and also that, SC Olhanense team is mainly composed for young players, somehow related to Benfica, Sporting and Porto also trained by an old porto player Jorge Costa, J. Jesus should have prepared better the eagles team to this game.

Before the game has started we lost somehow P. Aimar, injured. The team of Olhão entered well on the game and scored on the 10th minute by C. Fernandes. After the red card been shown to the Olhanense player, Djalmir, Saviola scored for Benfica. But before the end of the first half Toy scored again, for the home team, and things become even worse when Ramires also become injured.

On the second half, many red fans were worried for the booking possibility of David Luiz, an eventual 5th yellow card, that could let him out of the next home game against the Portuguese Champion FC Porto, but Soares Dias, the game referee, avoid to show him that same card. Who did not have the same luck was F. Coentrão with an Yellow card and Di Maria who once again reacted irresponsibly to an opponent and saw the red card. When the game was ending Miguel Garcia intended to do justice with his own hands, or better with is own feet, and went out of the game, sawing a red card, after a displacing aggression to D. Luiz. Nuno Gomes who had taken the place of Coentrão had the chance and scored well, before the final of the game, 92’.

A total disillusion of the red fans, not only for the result but mainly for the lack of dynamic. Also disappointed were the Olhanense coach who deserved a better result and see once again two important points disappear so rapidity.

The question is simple: Who will need more this 2 points at the end of the championship?

Liga Sagres: SL Benfica 4-0 Associação Académica de Coimbra

SL Benfica with this victory is with the same points of SC Braga in the top of the Portuguese League classification.

For the Portuguese League, Liga Sagres, Benfica received last Sunday night the “students” team. The Associação Académica de Coimbra visited Luz with the hope of obtaining a victory. In fact, the last two visits from the Académica team to the eagles nest had similed to them, where they won both games. The game was marked by lots of rain and lots of goals but, this time, for the reds. Óscar Cardozo with 3 goals and Saviola with the most beautiful goal of the night gave a tremendous hapinness to all the fans present in Luz.

Benfica brought from the Belarus cold 3 precious points that guarantee to the reds the 1st place of the Uefa Europa League group I.

The eagles went to play against FC BATE Borisov last Wednesday and obtained a very important victory. Two goals from the eagles against one from the Belarussian team gives us hope at the next knockout stages draw. One of the main advantages of being the group winner is to avoid the teams that are coming from the Champions League.

The game was disputed on the Dinamo stadium in Minsk (10.000), and some changes were operated by Jorge Jesus: Fábio Coentrão took the place of Di Maria and F. Menezes the place of Aimar, Miguel Vitor played instead of Luisão and Júlio César was the goalkeeper. The low temperatures were probably the main reason for the reds apathy, mainly, on the first half, where FC BATE was the only team near the goal, on a Krivets free kick. Fortunately, the second half couldn’t have started better. A brilliant triangular process, between Filipe Menezes and Fábio Coentrão originated the opportunity to Saviola (46’) score and he did it. Saviola again on the left side of the reds attack, had another chance and gave it to Coentrão (63’) that took it, making the second goal for the reds. The players of FC BATE were dangerous on free kicks and on corners and reached the goal on a Miguel Vitor own goal. When Di Maria and Aimar entered the game, could have scored but, the really important thing now is the group position achieved.

Europa League: FC BATE Borisov vs Sport Lisboa e Benfica

SL Benfica will play tonight against FC BATE, fighting not only, for a point that gives access to the next round, but for a victory.

The Football Club Borisov Works of Automobile and Tractor Electronic Equipment was founded in 1973. FC BATE is the 2oo8 Champions of the Belarus and also of the last two years. The team also won the Belarus Championship on 1999 and 2002.

The plane took during a 4.30h journey the twenty one players that are available to play later in Minsk. On the other side, Jorge Jesus will no be able to count with Sidnei, Carlos Martins, Luis Filipe and Luisão but for sure other players will be good alternatives.

Although the low temperatures on the Belarus, the players only think on achieving a victory. The cold may be a problem for the reds but never a excuse, like Ramires says and when they enter the pitch to play against the Yellow-blue team of Borisov they will certanly forget it quickly.

www.Weather.com

Jorge Jesus to the Press:
“We will not face this game thinking that a draw gives us the qualification to the next phase. Our idea is to win here, that may allow us to obtain the group first place.”

Viktor Goncharenko to the Press:
“We know very weel the Benfica team. He hope to win the game, although a draw would be satisfatory, and tet’s see what happens on the other group game.”

Town Stadium: Stadion Horodskiy(20h local time)

Futbolniy Klub Borisov Works of Automobile and Tractor Electronic Equipment
Goalkeepers: Sergei Veremko and Dmytro Ivanov;
Defenders: Sergei Sosnovski, Igor Shitov, Aleksandr Yurevich, Artyom Radkov, Maksim Bordachov and Vladimir Rzhevski;
Midfileders: Dmitri Likhtarovich, Aleksandr Volodko, Sergei Krivets, Aleksandr Pavlov, Igor Stasevich, Mikhail Kravchuk and Maksim Volodko;
Forwards: Vitali Bulyga, Aleksandr Alumona, Vitali Rodionov and Hovannes Goaryan.
Coach: Viktor Goncharenko.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Goalkeepers: Quim, Moreira, Júlio César;
Defenders: Maxi Pereira, Roderick Miranda, Miguel Vítor, David Luiz, Shaffer, César Peixoto;
Midfielders: Javi Garcia, Ramires, Ruben Amorim, Pablo Aimar, Di María, Fábio Coentrão, Felipe Menezes;
Forwards: Saviola, Cardozo, Nuno Gomes, Weldon, Keirrison;
Coach: Jorge Jesus.

Referee
Thomas Einwaller (AUT)
Assistant referee
Norbert Schwab (AUT) Klaus Strasser (AUT)
Additional assistant referee
Bernhard Brugger (AUT) Dietmar Drabek (AUT)
Thomas Prammer (AUT)

Liga Sagres: Sporting Clube de Portugal 0-0 Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Last weekend the eagles visited the lions and a null draw was the final result.

SL Benfica went to a full Alvalade Stadium last Saturday night where our team played against Sporting Clube Portugal. The greens (SCP) were in a difficult period, on the 8th place and with a distance of eleven points from the top. The eagles were in better shape but knewing that in those conditions it wouldn’t be an easy game.

The game turned out very tactical and much miedfield played. Carlos Carvalhal the lions new coach did eveything he could to show a good team on his first derby. Jorge Jesus awaited for a genious to appear on the game like Di Maria or Pablo aimar.

Few oportunities on a good game, where the result made justice to both teams perfomance. On the eagles side Cardozo, Quim and Ramires were in evidence. Also David Luiz and Javi Garcia showed arguments to aniquilate the habilities of some green players like Moutinho, Veloso and Liedson.

After the game Jorge Jesus noticed that SLB had won this game because the team was able to mantain a candidate to the title on a considerable distance. Nevertheless, this will only became a reality if, J. Jesus be able to keep the good team perfomances and of course with good results.

When a high level game like this occurs it is needed to observe two aspects: the pitch and the visitant fans. A Stadium like this one of Alvade deserved a better pitch. The grass was not at the level of the stars and when it is show everyone looses. On the second aspect, about the fans, it is sad to watch more than 1600 young red people treated so badly until they arrive the stadium. In Portugal laws are created to allow, that animals, have to be transported in better conditions. Those 1600 football lovers payed a lot to see the game and deserved better treatment. More sun and more police are for sure not the solution.

When the team can’t win a game, the better thing they can do is: NOT loosing it.